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Ted Cruz Declares War on Gluten-free Soldiers

Jefferson Adams

Jefferson Adams is a freelance writer living in San Francisco. His poems, essays and photographs have appeared in Antioch Review, Blue Mesa Review, CALIBAN, Hayden's Ferry Review, Huffington Post, the Mississippi Review, and Slate among others.

He is a member of both the National Writers Union, the International Federation of Journalists, and covers San Francisco Health News for Examiner.com.

Celiac.com 02/19/2016 - Did senator Ted Cruz just declare war on gluten-free soldiers? It kind of looks like that.

In an attempt to show he can be tough on American servicemen and women with celiac disease, the Republican presidential hopeful declared that, in the event the American people find him serving as their president and commander-in-chief, there will be no gluten-free MREs for soldiers anywhere under his command.

Campaigning in South Carolina, and courting pro-military voters, the Texas senator seemed to believe he was striking a blow against what he describes as a culture of "political correctness" in the Pentagon.

Speaking in broad strokes, Cruz said that "…the last thing any commander should need to worry about is the grades he is getting from some plush-bottomed Pentagon bureaucrat for political correctness or social experiments -- or providing gluten-free MREs;" the shorthand term for Meal, Ready-to-Eat.

According to Ted Cruz, it's a bad thing to be in favor of soldiers with celiac disease having a gluten-free meal when they're in the field—while they might be putting their lives on the line in service to our country.

Should American servicemen and women with celiac disease or gluten intolerance have their medical treatment made into a political issue? Apparently Cruz thinks so.

However, since celiac disease is a bona fide medical condition, and a gluten-free diet is the only currently recognized treatment, regardless of whether you are Democrat or Republican, Ted Cruz, or anyone else who aspires to be commander-in-chief of the armed forces, should simply not be treating them like second-class citizens.

All soldiers with medical conditions deserve proper treatment, that includes service men and women with celiac disease and medical conditions that require treatment with a gluten-free diet.

Let the senator from Texas know what you think: Ted Cruz on Twitter @tedcruz

71 Responses:

This is complete and totally misleading and inaccurate.He did not say at all that no gluten free meals would be served and you know it. How shameful of you to publish this so blatantly false information.

I think what you should be up in arms about is the fact that people, including in this case Ted Cruz, use the term gluten-free as shorthand for trendy, or pampered, or whatever disparaging remark they want to make. I sincerely doubt Cruz actually wants to deny soldiers medically necessary items if they are feasible to provide. Please keep the campaign snark off this page.

Donna, while we agree with your comment that Cruz's use of "gluten-free" was probably calculated and aimed at his base, once he made this comment it became a fair topic for this site to cover, as Celiac.com's aim is to cover all news and information related to celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and the gluten-free diet. Any time someone with Cruz's stature comes out with an anti-gluten-free position, Celiac.com will be here to shed light on it, and hopefully make them reconsider their position.

DID HE WAGE WAR???? REALLY?This problem has been a long standing one with the military LONG before Ted Cruz. You are apparently ill informed.Clearly you just wanted to make your political statement and get people enraged. You did exactly as you intended.

Totally agree with you, Admin and Ski Mom. Obviously the idiots who support Ted Cruz don't have and have had nothing to do with CD. We only get snippets of news on the American Presidential elections here in NZ, but whoever you choose has got to be better than ignorant Ted Cruz! What an eye-opener. Good job this has come out now.

Please note Celiac.com is not calling Ted Cruz or his supporters anything--we are simply shedding light on his stated position, which should be a concern for anyone on a gluten-free diet due to health reasons. What if the CEO of a major airline made a similar comment about providing gluten-free meals to their passengers--equating the diet with liberalness or political correctness? Would you call for a boycott? Would you defend them? Either way, Celiac.com would cover it.

My! We are judgmental aren't we Christine? Maybe since you don't get anything but "snippets" you should do a bit more research before you start calling names. The "ignorant" Ted Cruz was one of the top debaters in the country (the United States, not New Zealand) and has successfully debated cases before the Supreme Court. Doing a bit more study before you call names will keep you from looking ignorant.

This article, like the whole blown up issue, is absurd. Cruz was commenting on what a commander should be worried about and what they should not be worried about - and they most certainly should NOT be worried about what those under their command are eating. They have much larger issues to be in control of. But since many in the GF community have chosen to twist his comments to mean that he feels those with celiac should not be in the military, let's talk about that. Brain fog, extreme fatigue, joint pain, diarrhea, vomiting...these are just a few of the symptoms that might occur if someone with celiac disease accidentally consumes gluten. In a combat situation, there is NO way to guarantee without a shadow of a doubt that accidental gluten consumption might not occur. So there will always be the possibility of gluten. No way should someone who may experience any of the above symptoms be trusted with weapon, trusted to care for others under high stress conditions, trusted with the safety of the sons and daughters of our country and other countries, or be trusted to make sound judgement calls under already strained conditions - namely combat! I can't believe anyone with any experience with celiac disease would see anything wrong with keeping those with celiac disease out of these situations. The way some (you included) have spun this is EXACTLY what Cruz was referencing. Our country has become one of complete political correctness - even at the expense of common sense. What's next?? Insisting that accommodations be made so that quadriplegics can man the front lines? This country needs to quit making every issue personal and turning everything into how it's wronged so and so.

Actually, Sarah, commanders and political leaders down through the long stretch of history have, indeed, been very concerned with food as a primary issue with their fighting troops. For example, I just finished reading a history of the late Roman empire. Field commanders of the Roman legions often based their plans on food-related issues. Adequate food and the right food is fundamental to waging war. So, Sarah, your assertion that military commanders should not be concerned with what their troops are eating is not only wrong, it is absurd.

Having adequate food and having to make sure that special diets can be supplied are two very different things. I have no idea what you mean by the "right food" since the right food is different for some people.

SOOOOO, I am guessing that you don't believe people that have celiac disease should be allowed to buy a gun per the second amendment? because no way should they be entrusted with so dangerous a weapon around the public... there have always been medical exceptions to combat related service... but IF a person is required to serve... the least that can be done for them is to make sure they get whatever medical treatment they require... Sarah, it seems you don't understand celiac very well, either...

So you do realize that our Jewish and Muslim combat troops can get Kosher and Halal MRE's, right? (https://www.troopsupport.dla.mil/subs/rations/programs/rel/relabt.asp) Apparently some past Commander in Chief or Congress has believed that religious dietary issues are important enough to accommodate US service men and women in combat, so why not accommodate those who need a special diet for medical reasons?

ARE YOU KIDDING? If they eat something that wasn't Kosher or safe for the Muslim Religion most likely they'll NEVER KNOW, nor WILL THEY GET SICK.

I completely understand your passion, but I have to agree with most that this is way out of proportion.

And on a side note, I am currently trying to get my FAA Medical back due to celiac so that I can do my job and collect a pay check. I guess you can write a story about how my airline will not supply those of us with celiac a safe GF crew meal. Or how about the fact that 99% of all airports DO NOT have safe food options for us, non cross contaminated food or kitchen staff that know how to properly handle food so I don't get ill while flying an airplane with 150 passengers on board.

He's using the "dog-whistle" tactic of silently coupling "gluten-free" with "liberal politically-correct wussy" in the minds of those who are listening. Why else single it out? He's shamelessly playing to the crowd with that comment and it is worthy of derision. How can a candidate who plugs his "faith" so shamelessly be so callous to the medical needs of those he can't seem to wait to put in harm's way? Rafael Eduardo looks forward to the creation of many thousands of brand new war veterans.

As a Veteran, I recognize how harmful Cruz' comment is. As a voter, I cannot stand idly by when any politician make light of a subject so serious in my own life. You have every right to minimize or ignore it but to accuse the author like you just did is beyond the pale.

As the wife of a Marine and Mom to a son with celiac disease, it does make sense to me. Although my son would make an incredible asset to our military, he should never see the likes of combat oversees or in a hostile environment. By signing up to be a soldier means that he could be stricken for days at a time in locations where his nutritional needs could not be met as opposed to someone who does not suffer from celiac disease. Further, if ever taken hostage his ability to maintain his health could be far more compromised than that of a soldier who could eat an unrestricted diet given by another. It's a lot to consider no doubt with varing views but ultimately I think we can still find ways for intelligent and willing Americans to serve our country without their intake limits hurting them or putting their fellow soldiers in comprised positions.

I don't really wish to impugn the motives for authoring this piece. However it is my understanding that the military service policy in this nation is that people with Celiac Sprue if identified as such prior to applying for military duty, can be rejected for same based on this condition. That is my understanding. Now in the real world, I am sure people get into the military who do have Celiac Sprue. The question is salient as to what to do then, plus a lot of other questions along with that. Let's look at history in this regard: A young man who obviously had Celiac, John F. Kennedy, got into the military. Now of course he had to pull strings because his official diagnosis was Addison's Disease, although that was bogus. But because he pulled strings, he got into the Navy and became a war hero in World War II. The rest is history as they say. So there are a bunch more issues here than meets the eye based on this article is my point.

You are correct, Jeff. There are more issues here than meets the eye, and present day journalism does little to assuage public fear and mistrust and raises more militancy on many fronts than there is in the military. Numbers being what they are and as easily manipulated as many government agencies make them to be, let me posit that perhaps thousands of undiagnosed celiac sprue Americans have served in the various military branches from WWI to present day (including the excellent and probably most famous example you included, John F. Kennedy). The question becomes, "Then what?" Your understanding is also correct that military service requests can be and most often are rejected based on prior diagnosis of celiac sprue. "Then what?" Are celiacs the new "Don't Ask, Don't Tell?" If they want to serve this country they might just be and will suffer on many uneven battlefields. Do those of us with prior service (including combat) have standing for legal action against (insert agency here) because we were not diagnosed prior to serving and excluded from that service. The issues here have the potential to be bigger than an off-hand comment by a sitting senator campaigning in an election year but I doubt that it will become so. The rise and fall of political hysteria based on click bait headlines is just what the country has when what it really needs is a good 5-cent cigar. It was 25 years after my release from active duty that I was diagnosed by intestinal biopsy as having celiac sprue. I am not elevating myself to the level of President Kennedy because at the time of my service I thought I was turning my skivvies around due to close encounters of a surface to air missile kind.

People with known, diagnosed celiac disease are not admitted into the military. However, we have many servicemen and women who are diagnosed after they begin their service. My understanding is that, once discovered, celiac troops are moved to positions where their medical meal needs can be accommodated, i.e., non-combat positions. Still Cruz's comments are legitimate targets for questions or criticism, at least from the standpoint of a celiac disease and gluten-free information site, such as celiac.com.

Yes, I read a reputable article saying the same thing, that celiacs can be denied when even applying for any military duty just based on that diagnosis. The article also stated that there are currently no GF MRE options today, so Cruz promising to "ban" these things that don't even exist in today's military certainly feels like blustering.

Jeff, that is my understanding as well. And when you think about it, someone suffering with GI issues, vomiting and fatigue while serving on the battlefield is EXTREMELY ill advised! Hell, it is hard enough leaving my own home for extended periods of time, not to mention heading to the Middle East for months at a time!!

What if Cruz said that when he is president you can't get any more tax deductions for gluten-free food, or that it would never be considered a disability? A person who is running for president and targeting people on a gluten free diet is definitely a topic for this site.

It seems like the army needs to wake up to the fact that over 25% of Americans now say they are on a gluten free diet, and if they want to be able to recruit enough people they will need to offer gluten free meals.

Tell Ted Cruz and the Justice Department to stop speaking out of ignorance and read the medical evidence. While sending people into harms way, they can protect them by serving them food that won't kill them.

The fact that Cruz happened to choose "gluten-free" as part of his speech opened him up to scrutiny. I would have thought that his speeches would be more tightly scrutinized by his campaign staff to know when he was hitting a potentially very "hot" button. The casual mention of gluten-free tells me he is only looking at this as a fad diet or a choice; not something of medical necessity to live.

Thank you for bringing up a topic that is totally relevant to your site. Cruz has definitely been quoted as you stated -- he did say what you claim, that cannot be denied. This is a microcosm of how he believes people who are "different" should be treated. Politics aside, does anyone want this mentality in the White House? He is not only ill-informed, but open to his own form of politically correct! It's time things like this were out in the open. I find it difficult to believe that any celiac or gluten-sensitive person can defend him on any level.

I went back and looked at multiple reporting of this incident and it appears to me that Sen. Cruz was using GF food for his tough guy act. It also seems to me that he is ignorant about the medical necessity for a gluten free diet for someone with celiac disease. Else, why would you say such a thing. Very imprudent!

I'm trying to figure out the point or connection that you are attempting to make. Wanting healthier food in schools is a bad thing or is it her affiliation to the President that makes the connection. Maybe I just missed it.

When she advocated for healthier school lunches? That topic doesn't relate directly to celiac disease or a gluten-free diet, but if the First Lady did address a gluten-free diet in any way it would certainly be news here.

I was married to a Marine who fought in Viet Nam. It would've been impossible in a combat setting to provide for any dietary special need. I don't think anyone with a life threatening or possibly debilitating disease should be allowed in combat settings. It wouldn't be safe for them or even possibly their unit. That's not to say someone with Celiac shouldn't be allowed to serve - they should be, but in a more controlled setting where their special dietary needs can be taken care of on a regular basis.

The US military currently provides kosher meals to Jewish troops. What if Ted Cruz said that US generals shouldn't have to worry about providing kosher meals to our Jewish troops? Would that be news? Would that be considered acceptable public policy?

Why doesn't your foundation send Mr. Cruz a film about celiac disease, maybe he just doesn't understand how it will almost immobilize a person if they get a dose of gluten and if they die from it---there isn't a lot of help at the front--their families can sue for malfeasance.

Again, someone eating a non Kosher meal will cause ZERO harm to said person. And if supplies are low and there's only non Kosher meals at hand I'd bet my last dollar it would be eaten without even thinking twice about it on the battlefield.

Regarding Cruz's comment, in his eyes (as with most who are ignorant about Cleiac) those that eat Gluten Free are people that need to be coddled. At least this is my take on it, which is not right in my opinion and it is only fodder for those that think GF is a fade diet. But at the same time, arguing whether or not someone with Celiac needs to be on the battle field hoping their GF MRE made it in the supply line is ridiculous. Everywhere you read, those entering with Celiac are not accepted and for good reason, but if diagnosed after joining then they will most likely find something for you to do, probably stateside and behind a desk.

Yes, this came to my mind on reading your article, too. In fact, kosher, halal and vegetarian options are all available. Passover MRE's are, too (with matzoh replacing starches that are not kosher for that holiday). So it is problematic to target GF as if the military should refuse to "cater" to the particular dietary needs of specific groups of service people.

Wow. Just wow. I read this article for medically relevant information to help my daughter. Seeing political bashing is disgusting and a shame that you would ABUSE your access to this platform. Shame on you Celic.com for publishing such trash. This "quote" could have been relayed in an objective manner. Your personal opinions of political candidates needs to STAY OUT of this forum!! What a shame!

I'm sorry but kosher or other diets don't cause our soldiers to fall ill on the battle field. There is a good reason that celiacs aren't admitted to the armed services. It could affect the life and death performance that other soldiers are depending on. I have celiac disease and so do my young adult children and have investigated the issue. I think politicizing this message is taking it out of context. I usually like your articles but your argument is weak here. Ted Cruz meant the crazy self entitled babies who just want special treatment, not the medically necessary brave men and women who serve.

Many people felt the same way about women or gay people in the military, racial integration of the armed forces, etc., but Celiac.com feels that people with celiac disease should be able to serve in our military in any capacity. We should not be discriminated against based on our diet.

I don't see how a celiac would be in the field. According to Military.com, having a Intestinal malabsorption syndrome (like Celiac) can prevent you from joining. So it appears this is just stirring the pot for no reason.

My family includes 8 physicians. Two of us are also celiac patients. And none of us consider Ted Cruz to be a reliable source for any information. Most of his followers are in serious need accurate education. I am more concerned about the statement by the US Department of Justice. How could they be making decisions based on such erroneous assumptions??!!!

Thank you. As someone with celiac disease this is an important issue to me. I will share this article and appreciate your keeping me informed. This should be important to everyone like me who is 'Living Gluten Free to LIVE' !

Whether or not people with celiac disease should be allowed to serve in the military is really not the point here. I'm in my early 60s and growing up it occurred to me more than once that if I was a guy, my celiac disease would have given me a valid medical deferment which would have kept me out of Vietnam which in those days was a very good thing indeed.

What people on this page should be outraged about is that in Ted Cruz's mind Gluten Free equals "trendy", "sissy", "weak" and (oh horrors) politically correct. If Ted Cruz does not believe this personally, then he is pandering to ignorant people who do, which in my opinion is worse.

Something to think about when you go to the polls whether or not Senator Cruz seems like your political cup of tea.

Lets stop the hysterics and get to the problem he equated the GF diet with political correctness and social experiments and it diminishes the seriousness of the diet that is a terrible thing. He did not, however, declare war on GF soldiers because there are not any GF soldiers in the field and very few still serving. Celiac disease is one of those things that will prevent you from serving and if found out while serving you will most likely be medically discharged and if not you will never be deployed. So it's silly to say he's waging war and you are doing just as much a disservice to the celiac community as Ted Cruz by missing the point and injecting inflamed rhetoric into this issue.The truth is celiacs shouldn't serve because we would be a liability in a war zone AND as civilians our medical treatment should be respected. If a soldier does NOT have a medical need for a GF diet and still wants to serve and get a GF MRE he should get over it and eat what he or she is given like everyone else.

It is concerning that celiac disease is viewed as a frivolous malady, when it is not. However, I find it much more disconcerting that those already diagnosed with the disease are not permitted to enlist. This is truly discriminatory.

This is a complicated thing. If there is a draft and having celiac gets you out of it BC you are too difficult to feed, I feel like this is fine actually. Or if you are diagnosed with celiac after volunteering and are then given an honorable/medical discharge.

I think if ppl get outraged about this, it makes them look crazyily self centered, I think... you literally can't eat most American / processed food without getting sick, it is a much bigger medical deal than most other things ppl used to use to get out of the draft.....

I disagree with Ted Cruz on very many things and would be horrified if he became the commander in cheif of our military. But even as someone who shops and cooks for someone with Celiac's, I do agree with and understand this position.

Ted Cruz is either ignorant about celiac disease and the medical necessity of a gluten free diet, or completely unconcerned about the health of millions of celiacs in the US. It's up to each American (or, in the primaries, Republican) to decide if that's acceptable to them in a president. This is relevant to any person with celiac or with loved ones that have celiac, so it is perfectly appropriate for this site.

In regards to providing for special dietary needs, since there is no necessity of gluten in the human diet and there wouldn't be negative effects to other soldiers to eat GF meals, the army could easily accommodate all segments of the population by making all their MREs gluten and pork free. Problem solved.

While we are all entitled to our political opinions, singling out a candidate from a party that is clearly not your personal preference & writing an unflattering (possibly incorrect) post under the guise of being concerned for the welfare of those with celiac disease is not acceptable.

I don't know why this is such a big current issue. Having celiac disease has disqualified you from joining the military for over a decade now (when I was originally looking into it). If you are diagnosed with celiac while already in the military, it's on a case by case basis... Ted Cruz was just playing off the fad diet and clearly doesn't know what he's talking about.

Just google "Celiac" + "Military" and read the first article by Gluten Dude.

Samantha is correct. My son was suspected of having celiac disease (his mother-me-, uncle, brother and niece are celiacs) He was told that if he tested positive he would receive an honorable discharge from the air force. To me that would have been welcomed instead of suffering through 8 months of anguish because he was in the middle east!

CNN is a very biased news outlet and uses language to incite emotional reaction over rational thinking. I think to post this in this forum was in poor taste. To suggest inflammatory text to Cruz is a projection of someone's political bias. The military deals with provisions as "on a need basis" and always has. This is what his reference was that in order to build a military strong, we need to keep that focus and not try to move into political correctness. That is what he is all about keeping spending in line with purpose and keeping our priorities and purpose in line with the Constitution. I believe he would be a great Commander of the military. I completely understand celiac as we are a generational family of celiacs and for many years before most others even knew about it, many doctors sent their patients to me upon diagnosis on how to functionally live with this. That was a day long before all the conveniences and information of today. Secondly, I am a clinical person and am VERY familiar with the military. Thirdly, people need to stop pulling statements out of context on all the candidates just to degrade their characters but rather, look at their records over time and see if they have taken stands that support your views about important issues. The campaign trail is really not the best place to figure out for whom to vote. Their history is much better. Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. Thank you for the opportunity to voice one opinion. I appreciate the other respectfully stated opinions.

I love all this discussion about just one speech by one politician - politicians and politics here in Canada are so very boring in comparison. Thank you for publishing the article, it is curious to me why any politician would choose to comment on a "minority" of the population. Keep up the good work!

Thank you for this article. As the mother of an adult daughter who spent much of her life in bathrooms and missing events, I am sensitive to comments made about this disease and those who suffer with it. I do believe Ted Cruz used this disease to stir his base for his own benefit. Sad.